Signaling system



Jan. 23, 1934.

w. F. EAMES 1,944,735

SIGNALING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 12, 1928 5 /35 75 Ma ra/ INVENTOR L, a

W/l'am fZmes ATTORNEY Jlln- 1934- v w. F. EAMES 1,944,735

SIGNALING SYSTEM Original Filed May 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fines I ATTbRNEY Patented Jan, 23, 1934 PATENT OFFICE SIGNALING SYSTEM li ies h Earnes, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to lnghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 12, 1928, Serial No. 277,149 Renewed June 28, 1933 38 Claims.

My invention relates to signaling systems and more particularly to systems employed in connection with elevators that are operated at high speeds.

The object of my invention in general is the provision of a signaling system that is simple and eflicient in operation and capable of being readily and economically installed and maintained.

Another object of my invention is to provide for indicating to an attendant on a car of the high speed type while standing at a floor landing, that a stop is to be made at either one or both of the next two adjacent floor landings, and also I for preventing cancellation of the call for the two-floor-run, by movement of the car in answering the call for a one--floor-run.

Another object oi": my invention is to provide a signal system for elevators wherein a call, when. registered cannot be destroyed until the attendant on. the car conditions the car to make the corresponding stop.

Another object of my invention is to provide for cancelling a registered signal when it has been answered by one car and for preventing the next following car from receiving the same signal.

Another object of invention is to provide a signal system for elevators of the type in which a car, in stopping, is automatically brought to rest at a level with a floor and wherein a call, when registered, will be destroyed as soon as the attendant conditions the car to make the corresponding stop.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signal system in which the floor lanterns provided at the floors for indicating the direction in which the car is traveling and for indicating to passengers waiting at the floor that the car will stop, wherein the floor lantern will be energized only when a car is prepared to stop thereat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal. system of the ty e described in. the preceding paragraph wherein the zone of operation of the car during which floor lantern may be lighted is dependent upon the speed with which the car approaches the corresponding floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal system wherein the zone in which the floor lantern may be lighted is dependent upon the condition of the control system for the elevator car.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal system for multi'speed elevator cars wherein the condition of the control system to determine the speed of operation of the car determines the zone in which the floor lantern may be lighted.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signal system for use with an elevator having a slow-down distance greater than the distance between adjacent floors wherein a plurality of zones is provided within which the floor lantern may be lighted and selection of any of the zones depends opens the speed of the car.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signal system of the type described in the preceding paragraph wherein the floor lantern will be illuminated when the car is conditioned to make a stop at the corresponding floor first, when the car is in one zone and operating at a high speed; second, when the car is in another zone and operating at a lower speed; and third, in another zone when the car is standing at a floor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signal system of the type described in the preceding paragraph wherein the transfer of the floor signal from one zone to another is dependent upon the condition of the elevator car control system when decelerating and making a stop at the corresponding floor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signal system for elevators having a slow-down distance greater than the distance between two adjacent floors in which the zone during which deceleration must occur to make the stop at one floor and to make a stop at the second floor overlap wherein the conditioning of the car to stop at either of the floors causes energization of the floor lantern for that floor and prevents energization by that car of the floor lantern for the other of the floors.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signal system for elevators in which a signal when registered may be received by the first car to approach the corresponding floor and wherein the registered call is destroyed as soon as the car is conditioned to make the stop at that floor, the circuits for causing destruction of the signal utilizing the same conductors as those used to receive the signal.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signal system provided with a floor selector comprising contact segments associated with corresponding signal actuating devices arranged in groups a plurality of brushes engageable with 05 each group of segments at advanced or later positions of the car relative to the corresponding floors and wherein flexible conductors are utilized in place of continuous contact strips to supply current to the brushes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signal system for elevators of the type having a normally high working speed and an ex press speed of higher value wherein a dispatcher or person other than the attendant on the cars may cause any of the cars to travel at express speed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signal system for elevators of the type having a normally high working speed and an express speed of higher value wherein a car, while running at express speed, shall be prevented from picking up stop calls registered by call push buttons at the fioors past which the car operates.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a signal system of the type described in the preceding paragraph wherein devices are used upon the elevator car for indicating the desire of passengers on the car to leave the car at corresponding floors and wherein the actuated condition of any of the devices prevents the operation of the car at an express speed.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

For an illustration of one of the many forms my invention may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views of the control circuits and apparatus embodying my invention as applied to a bank of two elevators.

Although the principles of my invention may be employed in signal systems associated with elevator control systems of various types, the invention, in this instance, is illustrated and described as associated with an automatic landing control system of the type wherein when the car is started and the car switch thereafter centered, the car continues to run until a floor stop device, either a floor selector or inductor relays of any other suitable stopping device, are successively actuated to decelerate the car as it approaches the fioor at which a stop is to be made.

These systems are well-known and operate, first, to initiate deceleration from a normal high speed to an intermediate speed when the car is a predetermined distance away from the floor; then, to initiate deceleration from the intermediate speed to a landing speed when the car is at a given point closer to the floor; and, finally, to cut off power to the motor when the car is within a few inches of the floor to thereby cause the car to always stop accurately at the floor level.

It will be understood, therefore that, in the following description of my invention, the centering of the car switch does not immediately 331.158 deenergization of the high-speed switch, the intermediate-speed switch and the direction switches, but that these switches will remain active until the landing devices successively open the circuits for these switches as i the car successively passes the predetermined deceleration points adjacent to the floor at which the stop is to be made.

Referring to the drawings elevator car A is illustrated as adapted to be operated between a plurality of floors by means of a hoisting motor (not shown) which is governed by means of suitable controllers comprising an up direction switch 7, a down direction switch 9. intermediate-speed relay 11, high-speed relay 13 and express-speed relay 15. Car B is suitably controlled by up and down direction switches 8 and 10, respectively, intermediate-speed relay 12, high-speed relay 14 and express-speed relay 16. While only two cars are shown, it is obvious that my system may be applied to any number of cars operating between any number of floors.

The cars are provided with car switches CS. and CSB, respectively, by means of which the attendants may control the direction and speed oi movement of the cars as desired. It will be observed that each of. the car switches is provided with the usual brush a and cooperating contact fingers therefor, and also provided with additional arms I) and c and cooperating contact members therefor disposed to operate in a plane different from that of the brush and contact fingers for purposes to be described more fully hereinafter.

Inasmuch as the cars re of the high-speed type in which the slow-down distance is greater than the distance between two adjacent floors, I have provided each car with two signal-giving devices, preferably electric lamps, the red lamps I-ILA and HLB for indicating that a stop is to be made at a floor more than one iioor away, and the green lamps SLA and SLE for indicating while the cars are standing at a floor, that a stop is to be made at the next floor.

It will be noted that each lamp is provided with two filaments a and b, respectively, in order that it may be readily connected in the signal circuits for the elevator in such manner that signals operated by one car will not disturb the signals for another car, as will be described hereinafter. The a filaments are arranged to operate in response to floor push buttons and the b filaments to car push buttons.

The circuit of the green standing lamp SLA in car A is connected to the normally closed con tact members 0 on the up direction switch '7 and the normally closed contact members 0 on the down direction switch 9 in such manner that the lamp may be energized only while the car is standing at a floor.

Similarly, the standing lamp SLB in car is connected in circuit with the contact members 0 on the up and the down. direction switches 8 and 1D in such manner that the lamp may be energized only while the car its standing at a floor.

In order that the passengers, when waiting at a floor landing, may register signals for stops to be made at that landing, or, in other words, initiate and maintain a set up of circ iits which will cause the signal lamps to give the attendants on the cars a stop signal as the cars approach the landing. a pair of signal-registerin push buttons is mounted at each of the landings inter1nediate the terminal floors. one for up travel and one for down travel. The up and the down buttons for the second floors are respectively esignated as 2U and 2D, while those for the third, fourth and fifth floors are designated as 3U and 3D, 4U and 4D, 5'0 and 5D.

Associated with the respective push buttons are push button relays 2UR and 2BR, BUR and 3DR, 4UR and lDR. and 5UR and 513R, respectively, for holding the push button signals until they are completed or re-set.

.Also associated with the respective push outtons are re-set relays E JS and EDS, 3US and, 3B5. 4118 and 4DS, and EUS and EDS.

Push buttons A2, A3, A4 and A5 are mounted on the car A and similar push buttons B2, B3, B4

and B5 are mounted on the car B to be operated by the attendant in the car when he desires to set the signal-giving devices to indicate stops to permit passengers to get off at corresponding floors.

Associated with the respective car-push buttons are car-pusl1-button relays ARZ, ARE, Alta and AR5 for car A; and BB2, BB3, BR l and B35 for car Also associated with the respective car-pushbutton relays are re set relays A82, A83, Ass A for car A; and B32, BS3, BS4, BS5 for car B, for cancelling the car button stop signals after they have been answered.

For the purpose of signaling a waiting passenger that a car is approaching in the direction in which he desires to go, each car is electrically connected to indicating devices, preferably electric lamps, which are mounted outside vator shaft at the floor landing. Each of the top and bottom floors is provided with a signal lamp or floor lantern for each car each of the intermediate floors is provided with a pair of lanterns corresponding to each car, one of said lanterns serving to indicate that a car is ap proaching in a downward direction the other in an upward direction.

The floor lanterns corresponding to car A are designated as L1, L23), LZU, LSU, L31), L4U, L lD, L5U, LED and L6, respectively, while the floor lanterns corresponding to car B are designated as L1, L21), L20", LSD, LSU, L413, L417, 155D, L5U, and L6.

In order that the various circuits for the push buttons, floor lanterns, and signal lamps may be connected in accordance with the position of the cars, the cars A and B are provided, respectively, with floor selectors FSA and FEB. The floor selectors may be located at any suitable point, for example, in the penthouse or in the elevator shaft.

As shown, the selectors are similar to those usually employed in elevator signaling systems. The selector FSA for car A is provided with sets of up contact segments and sets of down contact segments that are disposed to be engaged by cooperating brushes 2D to 38, inclusive, which are mounted upon, and insulated from, a movable arm MA.

Similarly, the selector FSB for car B is provided with up contact segments and down contact segments which are arranged in groups to be engaged by cooperating brushes 40 to 58, inclusive, which are mounted on, and insulated from, a movable arm MB.

The movable arm on each selector is operated by a screw 8 which is driven by some part of the operating mechanism of the car which the selector serves.

The frictional engagement between the arms and their operating screws causes the arms to bear upon the up contact segments when the cars are travelling upward and upon the down contact segments when the cars are travelling downward. In this system, it is desirable to have the movable arm tilted to the opposite side as soon as it reaches its up or down limit of travel. Therefore, the selector should be provided with one of the well known mechanical throw-overs; for example, such as is described in the Smalley and Reiners Patent No. 634,220, dated October 3, 1899.

It will be observed that a plurality of brushes or travelling contact members is provided for each group of segments on. the selectors arranged in such manner that, when the car is standing at a floor, each brush will be in engagement with a different segment. Each group comprises a slow in ac. v

brush which engages the segment corresponding to the next floor in advance of the floor at which the car is positioned, in the direction in which the car is prepared to travel, and an advance brush which en ages a segment corresponding to two floors in advance of the floor at which the car is positioned. The groups of brushes (24-25 and 33-3d for the segments connected to the floor lanterns are each provided with an additional trailing brush (26 and 32). for engaging the segment corresponding to the floor at which the car is positioned while it is not running.

Referring to car A, the group of contact segments under the advance brush 20 and slow brush 2]. on the movable selector arm MA controls the lighting of the signal lamps in the cars by the floor push buttons and includes contact segments for each of the second, third, fourth and fifth floors.

The group of contact segments under the advance brush 22 and the slow brush 23 controls the relays for resetting the floor push button r'elays. It includes a contact segment for each of the second, third, fourth and fifth floors.

The group of contact segments under advance brush 24, the slow brush 25 and the trailing brush 26 controls the li htin of the floor lanterns, through the centering of the car switch CSA, and includes a contact segment for each of the sec ond, third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors.

The group of contact segments under the advance brush 2? and the slow brush 28 controls the lighting of the signal lamps by the car push but,- tons and includes a contact segment for each of second, third, fourth. and fifth floors.

group of contact segments under the eeri ter brush 29 controls the relays for resetting the car push. button relays and includes a contact segment for each of the second, third, fourth and fifth floors. By reason of its location, the center brush 29 will engage its cooperating contact segments during both the up and the down travel of the movable arm.

It will also he noted that the movable arms of the floor selectors are constructed with off-set portions that are adapted to reach forward and engage the contact segments in such a manner that it is not necessary to change the relative position of the various groups to compensate for the difierent direction in which the car approaches the floor to such an extent as would be necessary if the movable arm were not provided with the oif-set portions.

A series of dotted lines numbered, respectively, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th are shown upon each floor selector to indicate the position of the movable arms with reference to the contact segments accordance with the position of each car with reference to the floors between which it operates.

Also for ease in reading the drawings, each contact segment is numbered to correspond with the floor it represents.

As shown, the express-speed relays 15 and 16 may he energized the cars to travel at express by switches 17 and 18 that are located at a point where they may be conveniently operated by the d #patcher or other person in charge of the elevator system.

When my system is used with elevators of the automatic landing type, that is where the cars will be automatically decelerated at predetermined points in their travel to stop level with the floors, the deceleration points are arranged to fit the normal high speed of the cars and hence when the cars are operating at express speed, deceleration initiated at these points will not permit the car to land level with the floors in response to calls for these floors. Such express speed should not be permitted when there are passengers in the car desiring to leave the car at floors other than the terminals.

For this reason I prevent the dispatcher from causing the car A to operate at express speed when one or more of the signal buttons in that car have been operated to register signals for passengers to get off, each of the car push button relays AR2, ARS, AR4 and AR5 is provided with a pair of normally closed contact members b that are connected in series in the circuit of the coil of the express speed relay 15 in such manner that the express speed relay cannot be operated until the completion of the stop for which a car push button has registered a call.

The car push button relays BB2, BRB, BB4 and BB5 for the car B are connected in a like manner with the express speed relay 16 to prevent the operation of the car B at express speed when a stop signal has been registered on the car buttons of that car.

It will also be observed that the express speed relays 15 and 16 are provided with additional normally-closed contact members b and c that are connected in the circuits between the floor push buttons and the signal lamps in the cars for the purpose of preventing the cars, while running at express speed, from receiving any stop signals registered by the floor push buttons.

My invention may be best understood from an assumed operation of the apparatus and the circuits connected therewith. Assuming that the car A is standing at the first floor landing, and that the car B is running in the upper part of its latchway, inasmuch as the car A is standing at the first floor landing, the trailing brush 26 will be on the up contact segment 59 for the first floor and the first floor lantern L1 will be lighted through a circuit that extends from supply conductor L1 through conductor 60, floor lantern L1, conductor 61, contact segment 62, conductor 63, contact segment 59, trailing brush 26, conductor 64, the normally-closed contact member 0 of in termediate speed relay 11, conductors 65, 66 and 68, contact finger 69, contact segment a of car switch CSA, contact finger 'IO and conductor 71 to supply conductor L2. will remain lighted until the car switch is moved to the running position and thereby opens the circuit for the lantern.

Assuming now that a passenger waiting at the second floor presses the floor push button 2U; then inasmuch as the car A is still standing at the first floor, its signal lamp SLA will be lighted to indicate that an up-stop is to be made at the second floor.

The operation of the floor push button 2U energizes the floor button relay 2UR by completing a circuit extending from supply conductor L1 through conductor 75, the contact members of floor push button 2U, conductor '76, the coil of floor button relay 2UR, conductor 77, the normally closed contact members of floor button relay 2US and conductor 78 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members or" the floor button relay ZUR, completesa self-holdin circuit for the relay extending from supply conductor L1 through conductor 79, the contact members of relay 2UR, the coil of relay 2UR, concluctor 77, the normally-closed contact members The floor lantern L1 of reset relay ZUS and conductor 78 to supply conductors L2.

Inasmuch as the car A is standing at the first floor and its slow brush 21 is on the contact segment 81, the closing of the contact members of floor button relay 2UR also completes a circuit for the signal light SLA extending from supply conductor L1 through conductors 79, the contact members of floor button relay ZUR, conductor 80, contact segment 81 on the floor selector, slow brush 21 on the arm MA, conductor 82, the normally-closed contact members 17 on expressspeed relay 15, conductor 102, the filament a of green lamp SLA, conductors 83 and 84, the contact member 0 of Lip-direction switch '7, conductor 85, the contact member 6 of down-direction switch 9 and conductor 86 to supply conductor L2.

The operator starts the car by moving the car switch CSA to the intermediate speed position to thereby make a one-floor run; or, if this si nal system is utilized in connection with the control system disclosed, in the copending application of W. F. Eames, Serial No. 236,772 filed November 30, 1927, the attendant may move the car switch to the full-speed position momentarily and thereafter center the car switch to stop at the second floor. The initial movement of the car switch energizes the tip-direction switch '7 and the intermediate speed relay 11. However, the intermediate speed relay 11 will remain energize-d even after the car switch is centered until the car passes the point at which deceleration should be initiated to bring the car to an accurate stop at the second floor. In the Barnes system referred to, this point is defined by the location of an inductor plate about midway between the first and the second floors. In a like manner the up-direction switch '7 will remain energized until the car passes the inductor plate located near the second floor for causing cutting oil power to the motor, as previously described.

The energization of the tip-direction switch 7, in addition to starting the car upwardly at a slow speed also separates its contact members 0, thereby opening the circuit for the signal lamp SLA and causing it to be extinguished.

The energization of the intermediate speed relay 11 in addition to accelerating the car to intermediate speed also causes its contact members b to close thereby lighting the second floor lantern L2U to indicate that the car A will make an up-stop at the second floor, by wayof a circuit that extends from supply conductor L1 through conductor 88, floor lantern LZU, conductor 89, contact segment 90, slow-speed brush 25, conductor 91, the normally closed contact members (i of high-speed relay 13, conductor the contact members at of intermediate speed relay 11, conductors 93, 66, and 68, contact finger 1 69, the contact segment a of car switch C-SA, contact finger 70 and conductor 71 to supply conductor L2.

Returning the car switch to its central or off position subsequent to the energizaticn of the intermediate speed relay 11 also completes a circuit for the reset relay 2US to open its contact members and restore the floor button relay. This circuit extends from supply conductor L1 through conductor 79, the contact members of floor button relay 2UR, conductor 80, contact segment 81, slow brush 21, conductor 82, conductor 95, normally closed contact members b of high speed relay 13, conductor 96, the contact members i) of intermediate speed relay 11, conductor 97, the

ion

contact members I) of the car switch CSA, condue-tor 98, slow speed brush 23, contact segment 99, conductor 100, the coil of reset relay 213s and conductor 101 to supply conductor L2.

As the car passes the intermediate speed decelerating point, the intermediate speed relay 11 is deenergized and opens its contact members at in the circuit of the floor lantern but the fioor lantern L2U remains lighted because the trailing brush 26 has now moved up to and engaged the contact segment 90, thereby transferring the circuit for the fioor lantern through the contact segment 90, from the slow brush 25 to the trailing brush 26, and thence through conductor 64, the normally-closed contact members c of the intermediate speed relay 11 (now deenergized), conductors 65, 66 and 68, contact finger 69, segment a of car switch GSA, contact finger '70, and conductor '71 to supply conductor L2. The floor lantern L2'U will therefore remain lighted so long as the car A stands at the second fioor landing and will be extinguished by the moving of the car switch to a running position by reason or" the separation of the car switch contact members a and 69.

Let it be assumed also that a passenger waiting at the fifth fioor lending has pressed the upbutton EU as the car A left the first floor to answer the second floor call and thereby register a stop call for the fifth floor and set up a circuit for the lighting of the signal lamp in the car when the car reaches a signal zone defined by the segment 110 in advance of the slow-down zone for that door, as defined by the location of the inductor plates.

The pressing of the button 5U energizes the relay 517R by completing a circuit extending from supply conductor L1 through conductor 105, the contact members of push button 5U, conductor 106, the coil of push button relay 5UR, conductor 10'? and the normally-closed contact members of reset relay ZEUS. The closing of the contact members of the push button relay 5UR, completes a self-holding circuit for that relay extending from supply conductor L1 through conductor 168, through contact members of relay 5UR, the coil of relay 511R, conductor 107, the normally-closed contact members of reset relay 5US to supply line L2.

As the car A leaves the second iioor and approaches the 5th floor, the high-speed brush 20 moves up to the 5th floor contact segment 110 and lights the red signal lamp I-ILA in the car to indicate to the attendant that a stop is to be made at the floor by completing a circuit that extends from supply conductor L1 through conductor 108, the contact members of floor relay conductor 111, contact segment 11G, high-speed brush 2o, conductor 112, the normallyclosed contact members 0 of express speed relay 15, conductor 142, the segment a of red lamp I-ILA and conductors 113 and 114 to supply conductor L2.

When the red signal lamp HLA lights up, the attendant sees it and centers his car switch CSA to make a stop at the 5th floor.

lhe centering of the car switch CSA extinguishes the signal lamp HLA and cancels the up call for the fifth floor by energizing the reset relay 5US, through a circuit that extends from supply conductor L1, conductor 108, contact members of floor button relay 511R, conductor 111, contact segment 11%, advance brush 20, conductor 112 to a junction point 115 and thence through conductor 116, the contact member 0 of high-speed relay 13, conductor 117, the contact member 0 of car switch GSA, conductor 118, advance brush 22, contact segment 119, conductors 120 and 121 and the coil of reset relay 5US to supply conductor L2. Relay SUS opens its contact member to break the holding circuit for relay 5UR.

The centering of the car switch to make the 5th floor stop will also light the up-fioor lantern L5U at the 5th fioor as the car approaches that floor by completing a circuit that extends from supply conductor Ll through conductor 122, fioor lamp L5U, conductor 123, contact segment 124, advance brush 24, conductor 125, the contact members 2 of high-speed relay 13, conductors 66 and 68, contact fingers 69, contact segment a of car switch GSA, contact finger and conductor 71- to supply conductor L2.

As the car continues to approach to the 5th floor, it passes the means for deenergizing the high-speed relay 13 (an inductor plate located near the 4th floor level) to initiate the deceleration of the car. The high-speed relay 13 now opens but at the same time, the slow brush 25 has moved up to the contact segment 124 and the circuit for the floor lantern is transferred from the advance brush 24 and the high-speed relay to the slow brush 25 and the floor lantern circuit now extends through conductor 91, the normally-closed contact members (2 of high-speed relay 13, conductor 92, the contact members it of intermediate-speed relay 11 and conductor 93 to conductor 66 from which point it proceeds as described in connection with advance brush 24.

As the car passes the point for initiating deceleration of the car from intermediate speed and comes to a stop, the intermediate speed relay opens but the trailing brush 26 replaces the slow brush 25 on the 5th floor contact segment 124 and the circuit for the 5th floor lantern is transferred from the slow brush 25 to trailing brush 26 through which it extends by way of conductor 64, the normally-closed contact member 0 of intermediate-speed relay 5 and conductor 65 to conductor 66 from which point it proceeds through the car switch USA as hereinbefore described in connection with the advance brush 24.

Assuming now that car A, after completing its up trip, is again at the first floor and has taken on passengers, and that some of the passengers have notified the attendant that they desire to get on" at the second floor. Thereupon, the attendant presses the car push button A2, which lights the green signal lamp SLA to indicate that a stop is to be made at the second floor.

The pressing of the car push button A2 energizes the car button relay ARZ by completing a circuit extending from supply conductor Ll, through conductors 127 and 128, the contact members of car button A2, conductor 129, the coil of car push button relay A32, conductor 130, normally closed contact members of reset relay A82 and conductor 131, to supply conductor L2.

The contact members a of the car push button relay AR2 in closing, complete a holding circuit for the relay that extends from supply conductor L1 through conductor 132, the contact members a of the relay AR2, the coil of relay AR2, conductor 130, and the normally closed contact members of relay AS2 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members a of the car push button relay ARZ also completes a circuit for the green signal lamp SLA, inasmuch as the car is standing at the first floor, which extends from supply conductor L1 through conductor 132, the contact members a of car button relay AR2, conductors 129 and 133, contact segment 134, slow brush 28, conductor 135, filament b of green signal lamp SLA, conductors 136 and 84, the contact members 0 of up direction switch 7, conductor 85, the contact members c of down direction switch 9, and conductor 86 to supply conductor L2.

The operator starts the car by moving the car switch GSA to the intermediate posi on to make the run to the second floor, and thereby energizes the up direction switch 7 and the intermediate speed relay 5 as previously described.

The energization of the up direction switch 7 separates the contact member 0 and thereby opens the circuit for the signal lamp SLA and causes it to be extinguished.

The energization of the intermediate speed relay 11 causes its contact members b to close and to thereby complete a circuit for lighting the second floor lantern L2U to indicate to passengers waiting at the second floor that the car will make a stop at that floor. The completed circuit for the second floor lantern in this instance is the same as that hereinbefore set forth in describing the movement of the car A to answer the second floor call registered on the floor button 2U. The floor lantern will remain lighted until the car switch is moved to active position after the stop is completed.

As the car comes to a stop at the second floor, the central brush 29 engages the contact segment 137 and restores the car button relay ARZ to cancel the call by completing a circuit from supply conductor Ll through conductor 139, the coil of reset relay A82, conductor 140, contact segment 137, central brush 29 and conductor 141 to supply line L2.

Assuming, again, that the car A has been brought back to the first floor and has taken on a number of passengers who desire to get on": at the second and fifth floors. In this case when the car buttons are operated for the second and fifth floors, the operation will be substantially the same as that described in connection with the floor buttons, except that the car buttons and car button relays are operated instead of the floor buttons and the floor button relays.

Assume, now, that both the cars A and B are standing at the ground floor, that up floor button calls for the second and third floors exist, that car A answers the second floor call and that car B answers the third floor call, passing car A. Inasmuch as both cars are standing at the ground floor, both the red and the green signal lamps in each car will be lighted to indicate that stop signals exist for the two floors.

The registration of the up call for the second floor on the floor button 2U completes a circuit for lighting the green lamp SLA in car A and the green lamp SLB in car 13 extending from supply conductor L1 through conductor '79, the contact members of relay ZUR conductor to a junction point 145, from whence one branch leads through contact segments 81 to the lamp SLA in car A as previously described, and the second branch leads to the lamp SLB in car B through conductor 146, to contact segment 147, slow brush 41, conductor 148, the normally closed contact members 1) of the express speed relay 16, conductor 104, the filament a of green lamp SLB, conductors 149 and 150, the contact members 0 of up direction switch 8, conductor 151, the contact members 0 of down direction switch 10 and conductor 152 to supply conduc tor L2.

The pressing of the third floor push button 3U energizes the floor button relay EUR by Way of a circuit extending from supply conductor L1 through conductor 153, contact members of push button conductor 154, the coil of push button relay 3BR, conductor 155, the normally closed contact members of reset relay and supply conductor L2.

The contact members of the door push button relays in closing, complete a self-holding circuit extending from supply conductor Ll through conductor 156, the contact members of relay BUR, conductor 15?, the coil of relay 311R, the normally closed contact members of reset relay 3US to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members of the floor button relay oUR feeds the contact segments 1&3 and 1 14 for the th rd floor and inasinuch these contact ments are respectively engaged by the advance brushes 20 and 10 by reason of the fact that the cars A and B are standin at the ground iioor, the red signal lamps HLA and E-ILB .1 the cars and B will be lighted through a CilCl "t that extends from supply conduct-or L1, conductor 156, contact members of push button 1'1, ay SUE-t and conductor 160 to a junction point 161, one branch extending through conductor 162, C01. ct segment 143, brush 2G, conductor 112, the no ally-closed contact members 0 of express 3d relay 15, conductor 142, the filament a of lamp HLA, conductors 11S and 114 to supply conductor L2, and the other branch from the junction point 151 to conductor contact segment 144, advance crush 40, conductor 154, the normallyclosed contact members c I express speed relay 16, conductor 103, the it a of lamp HLB in car B and conductors 1G5 and 166 to supply conductor L2.

Assuming now that the car A starts upward, to answer the second floor call just before our B starts up to answer the t 1rd floor call, then, as the attendant on car A moves the car switch USA to the intermediate speed position to make the one floor run, the up direction switch '7 will be enand .arate contact members c, thereby opening the circuit for the green signal lamp SLA and extinguishing it.

The centering of the st 'tch USA to make the stop at the second floor e gizes the reset relay 3118 to cancel the cal mid extinguish the signal 1am LB for car B completing circuit that from supply conductor Ll through conductoi '79, the contact members of floor button relay ZUR, etc., as hereinbefore described in connection with the oper on or" car A in answering the former call registered by are second floor push button.

From this point, the car A will move to and stop at the second floor he before described.

Assume now, that i1 ely after car A leaves the first lan car B starts up for the purpose of Inasmuch the in second floor call 1 advance :v ring he third floor call.

'ten ant on car 13 moves the l and cancels the third floor call by energizing the reset relay 313.8 to restore the floor push button relay BUR, by completing a circuit that extends from supply conductor L1, through conductor 156, the contact members of floor button relay 311R, conductor 160, to a junction point 161, conductor 163, contact segment 144, brush 4 conductor 16 1, to a junction point 168, conductor 169, the contact members 0 of high speed relay 14, conductor 170, the contact members 0 of car switch CSB, conductor 171, advance brush 12, contact segment 172, conductors 173 and 174, the coil of reset relay 3US to supply conductor L2.

it will therefore be seen that, when an attendant on one of the cars centers his car switch to answer a registered signal, he not only cancels the registered signal, but also extinguishes the signal lamp in any other car which may also have picked up the same signal.

It will be observed that the actuation of the car switch GSA on car A to make necessary onefloor calls in answer to the second r'ioor calls energized the intermediate speed relay but did not energize the high-speed relay. Hence, the floor lantern L2U for the 2nd floor was energized by reason of the fact that brush 25 was in engagement with the contact segment 90, corresponding to this lantern. On the other hand, even though at this time, brush 24 engaged the floor lantern segment for the third door, the third floor lantern L311 was not ighted, since the circuit to brush 2. 1 can be completed only if the highspeed relay is energized.

When car B was started to make the two-floor run in answer to the 3rd floor call, both the intermediate and the high-speed relays 12 and 1 1 were energized. The energization of higl1speed relay 14 opened its contact members d preventing energization of the second floor lantern L211, by way of brush 25 and also closed its contact members 6 to permit completion of the circuit for the third floor lantern L3U', by way of brush 1 1 (now in engagement with the third floor segment 176) It will, therefore, be observed that even though the cars pass each. other, the floor lantern for any floor will be illuminated only for that car which is conditioned to stop at the correspondim floor, and that I have provided a system wherein false indications cannot be given regardless of the manner in which the cars pass each other.

After the car A has been brought to the top floor landing and has started down, it will be assumed that the car B has been brought to the top floor landing, that it has taken on a number of passengers and that it has started down, assuming also that the dispatcher in charge of the elevators desire to recall car B to the first floor as soon as possible. At this point, the dispatcher closes the dispatchers switch 18 and thereby energizes the express speed relay 16 and actuates control devices in a well known manner to cause the car B to accelerate to express speed. This circuit extends from supply conductor L1 through conductor 183, in series through the contact memhers I) of the car button relays BB2, BB3, B3 1, and BB5, conductor 184, the coil of express speed slay 16, conductor 185, dispatcher switch 18 and conductor 186 to supply conductor L2.

Assuming now that after the car B starts down, some of the passengers taken on at the top floor notified the attendant that they desired to get off at the third floor, the attendant presses the car button B3 to register the third floor stop by way of a circuit that extends from supply conductor L1 through conductors 187 and 188, the contact members of car button switch B3, conductor 189, the coil of car button relay BB3, conductor 190, the normally-closed contact members of reset relay BS3 and conductor 191 to sup.-

, ply conductor L2.

The contact members a of the relay BB3, in closing, complete a self-holding circuit for the relay that extends from supply conductor L1 through conductor 192, the contact members a of relay 3R3, conductor 190, the normally-closed contact members of reset relay BS3, and conductor 191 to supply conductor L2.

The energization the car button relay BB3 causes its contact members I? to separate and open the circuit for the coil of express speed relay 16, thereby deenergizing the express speed relay and causing the car to decelerate from express speed to high speed.

As the car approaches the third floor, the stop signal for that floor is picked up and the attendant centers the car switch CSB for the stop. The centering of the car switch CSB causes the floor lantern L31) to be lighted, the high speed relay 14 and intermediate speed relay 12 to drop out, and the car to come to a stop, as set forth in previous descriptions of the operation of the cars.

When the car stops at the third floor, the central crush 49 on the floor selector FSB will engage the contact segment 193 and cause the car button relay BB3 to be deenergized and extinguish the stop signal. for the third floor by comple ing a circuit that extends from supply conductor L1 through conductor 194, the coil or reset relay BRB, conductor 195, contact segment 193, central brush s9 and conductor 196 to supply conductor L2. The deenergization of the car button relay BB3 also causes its contact memhers I) to resume their normally-closed posi tion, thereby restoring the circuit for the express speed relay 16 so that the car B will again acceleraL-e to express speed as it continues its downward trip, provided that the dispatchers switch 16 still remains in its closed position.

It should be observed that stop calls registered on the floor push buttons cannot be picked up by the car B while it is running at express speed, because the expr ss speed relay 16 is energized and its contact members b and c remain open during that period. Inasmuch as the normallyclosed contact members b and c constitute parts of the circuits between the floor push buttons and the signal lamps in car B, no circuits for the lamps can be completed while these contact members remain open.

In View of the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a signal system that is effective in operation for all conditions to indicate to the attendants on the cars the stops to 1:

be made, that 1 have provided a signal system in which the signals for a stop are cancelled as soon as any one car starts to answer that stop, and that 1 have provided a signal system in which the dispatcher or other person in charge of the elevators may cause any one of the cars to run at express speed when no car button calls for stops existing within that car.

While I have illustrated and described the system as embodying electric lamps for the signaling devices in the system, it will be understood that any other form of signal device may be employed with equal advantage.

The embodiment of my invention disclosed herein is merely illustrative, the apparatus and the circuits involved being capable of adaptation to varied conditions of service. Therefore I do not desire to be limited to the defails oi the system shown, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a signal system for a bank of elevator cars having a normal working speed and an express speed of higher value, means for selectively operating said cars at working speed, and means under control of a dispatcher for selectively operating said cars at express speed.

2. In a signal system for an eleva. or operable at a normal speed and at an express speed, means for registering calls for stops, and means responsive to the registration of a call for a stop for rendering the express-speed operating means ineffective.

3. In a signal system for an elevator car having a working speed and an express speed of higher value, means for operating said car at express speed, means operable from within said car for registering calls for stops to be made by said car, and means responsive to the registration of a call for a stop for rendering the express-speed operating means ineffective.

4. In a signal system for an elevator car having a normal high working speed and an express speed of higher value, means operable from outside of said car for operating said car at express speed, means operable from within said car for registering calls for stops to be made by said car, and means responsive to the registration of a call for a stop for rendering the express-speed operating means ineffective.

5. In a signal system for a bank of elevator cars operable selectively at a normal speed and at an express speed, means operable from within each car for registering calls for stops, and means responsive to the registration of a call for a stop by a car for rendering the express-speed operating means for that car ineffective.

6. In a signal system for an elevator operable at a normal speed and at express speed, car signal means disposed in the car, passenger-operated means operable from the floor landings for registering calls for stops to be given by said car signal means and means responsive to the operation of the car at express speed for preventing said car signal means from picking up stop calls registered by the passenger-operated means.

7. In a signal system for an elevator car having a working speed, and an express speed of higher value, means disposed outside of the car for selectively operating the car at express speed, a car signal means disposed on said car, means operable from within said car for registering calls for stops to be given by the car signal means in that car, passenger-operated means operable from the floor landings for registering calls for stops to be given by the car signal means, and means associated with the means for operating the car at express speed for preventing ihe car from being operated at express speed While a registered stop call exists in the car and for preventing the car signal means in the car from picking up stop calls registered on the passenger-operated means while that car is being operated at express speed.

8. In a signaling system for a bank of elevator cars, operable past a plurality of floors, means individual to each car in the bank under the control of an attendant on that car for controlling the operation of that car, call registering means for each of said floors, common to all of the cars, operable to register and n1aintain calls for service at the corresponding floor, car signal means on each car, common to all of said floors, for indicating to the attendant that stop is to be made, means individual to each car and operable in correspondence with the position of that car with respect to said floors for connecting the associated car signal means for actuation by any of the call registering means when that car is at a predetermined distance in advance of the corresponding floor, and means operable responsive to the actuation, by the attendant for any of said cars, in response to the indication given, of some part of the control means, the actuation of which will result in the stopping of the car at the corresponding floor, for preventing operation or the car signal means for any others of said by the call registering means for that floor.

9. In a signaling system for a bank of elevator cars, operable past a plurality of floors, means individual to each car in the bank under the control of an attendant on that car, for controlling the operation or" the car, call registeri'ig means for each of said floors common to all of cars operable to register and maintain calls for service at the corresponding floor, car signal means 011 each of said cars common to all of said floors for indicating to the attendant on the associated car that a stop is to be made, means individual to each of said cars and operable in correspondence with the position of that car i 'th respect to said floors for connecting the associated car means for actuation by any of the call registering means when the car is "etermined distance in advance of the ending floor, restoring means for each of said floors for cancelling the registered calls, and means operable responsive to the actuation,

by the attendant for any of said cars in response to the indication given, oi some part or" the control means of that car, the actuation of which will result in the stopping of that car at the signaled door for immediately actuating the restoring means for that iioor, thereby preventing another of the cars from receiving the same registered call for that floor.

10. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of doors, means under the control of an attendant on said car for controlling the operation of said car, call registering means for each of said floors operable to register and maintain calls for service at corresponding fioors, car signal means on said car common to all of said floors, for indicating to the attendant that a stop is to be made, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floors for connccting said car signal means for actuation by any of said call registering means when said car is at a predetermined distance in advance of the corresponding floor, restoring means for each of said floors for cancelling such "registered calls, and means operable responsive to the actuation, by the attendant in response to the indication given, of some part of said control means, the actuation of which will result in the stopping the car at the signaled floor, for immediately operating the restoring means for that floor.

11. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, means under the control of an attendant on said car for controlling the operation of said car, call registering means for each of said floors operable to register and maintain calls for service at the indication given of corresponding floors, restoring means for each floor for cancelling registered calls, car signal means on said car common to all of said floors for indicating to the attendant that a stop is to be made, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floors for connecting said car signal means to said call registering means when said car is at a pre determined distance in advance of the corresponding iloor and for simultaneously preparing for operation the restoring means for that floor, and means operable responsive to the actuation, by the attendant in response to the indication given of some part of the control means, the actuation of which will result in the stopping of said car at the signaled floor for immediately completing the operation of the restoring means for that floor.

12. In a signaling system for an elevator car, having control means therefor which may be rendered efiective when the car is approaching a floor at which a stop is to be made, for automatically decelerating the car to bring it to a level with the floor, means under the control of an attendant on said car for rendering said control means eiiective, a signal means on said car for notifying the attendant when the control means should be rendered effective, call-registering means for each floor served by said car operable to register and maintain calls for service at corresponding fioors, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floors for connecting said car signal means for actuation by any of said call registering means when the car is at a predetermined distance in advance of the corresponding floor, restoring means for each floor for canceling such registered calls, and means operable responsive to operation by the attendant in response to the said attendant-controlled means to render said deceleration control means effective to stop the car at the signaled floor for immediately actuating the restoring means for that floor.

13. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a floor, means under the control of an attendant on said car for controlling the operation of said car, car signal means carried by said car for indicating to the attendant that a stop is to be made, a circuit therefor, call registering means for said floor operable to partially complete said circuit, means for completing said signal circuit when said car is at a predetermined distance in advance of said floor including a conductor and means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floor, restoring means operable to restore said call registering means to non-operated condition, a circuit therefor, including said conductor, and means operable by actuation, by the attendant in response to the indication given, of some part of said control means, the actuation of which will result in the stopping of the car at said floor for completing the circuit for said restoring means.

14. In a signaling system for a bank of elevator cars, operable past a plurality of floors, means individual to each car in the bank under the control of an attendant on that car for controlling the operation of that car, floor signal means at each floor individual to each car for indicating that that car is to stop at that floor, call registering means for each of said floors, common to all of the cars, operable to register and maintain calls for service at the corresponding floor, car signal means on each car, common to all of said floors, for indicating to the attendant that a stop is to be made, means individual to each car and operable in correspondence with the position of that car with respect to said floors for connecting the associated car signal means for actuation by any of the call registering means when that car is at a predetermined distance in advance of the corresponding floor, and means operable responsive to the actuation, by the attendant for any of said cars in response to the indication given, of some part of the control means, the actuation of which will result in the stopping of the car at the corresponding floor, for preventing operation of the car signal means for any others of said cars by the call registering means for that floor and for operating the floor signal means for that floor.

15. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, control means therefor selectively operable to cause said car to stop at the floor next approached by said car or to stop at the fioor beyond that next approached, call registering means for each of said floors for registering and maintaining calls for service for the corresponding floors, restoring means for cancelling such registered calls, signaling means carried by said car, common to all of said floors, for receiving registered calls, means operable in accordance with the position of said car when the car is standing at a floor for rendering said signal means effective to receive registered calls for the next two adjacent floors and for preparing for operation the restoring means for both of said floors, and means dependent upon the selection of said control means to stop the car at either one of said floors for completing the operation of the restoring means for the corresponding floor only.

16. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, control means therefor selectively operable to cause said car to stop at the floor next approached by said car or to stop at the floor beyond that next approached, call registering means for each of said floors for registering and maintaining calls for service for the corresponding floor, electrically operated restoring means for cancelling such registered calls, signaling means carried by said car common to all of said fioors for receiving registered calls, means operable in accordance with the position of said car when the car is standing at a floor for rendering said signal means effective to receive registered calls for the next two adjacent floors and for preparing circuits for operating the restoring means for both of said floors, and means dependent upon the selective operation of said control means to stop the car at either one of said floors for completing the circuit for operating the restoring means for the corresponding floor only.

17. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable pasta pluralityof fioors,means under the control of an attendant on said car for control ling the operation of said car, call registering means for each of said floors operable to register g and maintain calls for service at the corresponding floors, floor signal means at each floor for indicating that the car is to stop at that floor, car signal means in said car, common to all of said floors, for indicating to the attendant that 145 a stop is to be made, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floors for connecting said car signal means for actuation by any of said call registering means when the car is at a predetermined distance in 150 advance of the corresponding floor, and for preparing for operation the floor signal means for that floor, restoring means for each of said floors for cancelling such registered calls, and means operably responsive to the actuation by the attendent, in response to the indication given, of some part of the control means, the actuation of which will result in the stopping of the car at the signaled floor, for immediately operating the restoring means for that floor and for completing the operation of the floor signal means for that floor.

18. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, control means thereof selectively operable to cause said car to stop at the floor next approached by said car or to stop at the floor beyond that next approached, call registering means for each of said floors for registering and maintaining calls for service for the corresponding floor, restoring means for cancelling such registered calls, signaling means carried by said car, common to all of said floors, for receiving registered calls, a floor signal means at each of said floors for indicating that the car is to stop thereat, means operable in accordance with the position of said car when the car is standing at a floor for rendering said car signal means effective to receive registered calls for the next two adjacent floors and for pr paring for operation the restoring means for both of said floors, and means dependent upon the selection of said control means to stop the car at either one of said floors for completing the operation of the restoring means for the corresponding floor only and for operating the floor signal means at that floor only.

19. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, control means therefor selectively operable to cause said car to stop at the floor next approached by said car or to stop at the floor beyond that next approached, call registering means for each of said floors for registering and maintaining calls for service for the corresponding floor, restoring means for cancelling such registered calls, signaling means carried by said car, common to all of said floors, for receiving registered calls, a floor signal means at each of said floors for indicting that the car is to stop thereat, means operable in accordance with the position of said car when the car is standing at a floor for rendering said signal means effective to receive registered calls for the next two adjacent floors for preparing for operation the restoring means for both of said floors and for preparing for operation the floor signal means for both of said floors and means dependent upon the selection of said control means to stop the car at either one of said floors for completing the operation of the restoring means for the cor responding floor only and for completing the operation of operating the floor signal means at that floor only.

20. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a floor, a floor signal means at said floor for indicating that a car will stop thereat, control means for starting and stopping said car, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floor for preparing for operation the floor signal means at that floor when the car is at a substantial distance in advance of said floor, means responsive to actuation of said control means to stop said car at said floor for immediately completing the operation of floor signal means.

21. In a signal system for a bank of elevator cars, a plurality of floor signal devices at a floor landing one for each of the cars in the bank, control individual to each of said cars, and means operable responsive to the actuation of some part of the control means for any car, the actuation of which will result in the stopping or that car at that floor for actuating the floor signal device for that car and for preventing actuation of the floor signal device for any of the other cars.

22. In a signaling stem for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, control means therefor for and stopping said car, floor signal means for each floor for indicating that the car is to stop thereat, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floors for preparing for operation the floor signal means for any floor when the car is within a predetermine: distance in advance of said floor and means operable res onsive to the actuation of said control means to stop said car at any floor for completing the operation of the signal for that floor.

23. In a signaling system for an elevator operable past a floor, floor signal means at said floor for indicating that car will stop thereat, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said iloor for partially preparing for operation the floor signal means at said floor, when said car arrives at one predeteri .ined distance from said floor, when said car arrives at a predetermined distance from said floor and when said car is approximately level with said floor, and means operable in correspondence with the speed of movement of said car for completing the operation of said floor signal means when said car is operating at one speed between said first and said second named distances, for completing the operation of said floor signal means when said car is operating at a lesser speed between said second named distance and the approximate floor level and for completing the operation of said floor signal means when said car is stationary at said 1 approximate floor level.

24. In a signal system for an elevator operable past a floor, floor signal means at said floor for indicating that a car will stop thereat, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floor for partially preparing for operation the floor signal means at said floor when said car arrives at one predetermined distance from said floor, when said car arrives at a lesser predetermined distance from said floor and when said car is approximately level with said floor, control means for said car selectively operable to cause said car to travel at a high speed, at an intermediate speed and at zero speed, means operable responsive to the actua tion of said controlling means to cause said car to operate at said high. speed for completing the operation of said floor signal means when said car is between said first and said second named distances, and operable responsive to the actuation of said controlling to cause said car to travel at said lower speei for completing the operation of said floor means when said car is between said second named distance and said approximate floor level, and operable responsive to the actuation oi said control means, to cause 7 for indicating that a car will stop thereat, control means for controlling the starting, stopping and changing of speed of said car, means operable responsive to actuation of said control means to initiate a stopping operation of said car for actuating said signal means, a plurality of circuits for maintaining said signal means in active condition, and means responsive to movement of said car and to actuation of said control means in reducing the speed of said car for transferring the signal means from one of said circuits to another of said circuits as said car approaches said landing.

26. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a floor, a floor signal means at said floor for indicating that a car is to stop thereat, a plurality of circuits for controlling said floor signal means, mean operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floor for partially completing one of said circuits when said car is a substantial distance from said floor, and for partially completing another of said circuits when said car is at a lesser distance from said floor and means dependent upon the speed of operation of said car for transferring the control from the first of said circuits to the other of said circuits as said car reduces its speed as it approaches said floor.

27. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a floor, control means therefor operable between car running and stopping positions, floor signal means at said floor for indicating that a car is to stop thereat, a plurality of circuits for controlling said floor signal means, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floor for partially completing one or" said circuits when the car is a substantial distance from said floor and for partially completing another of said circuits when said car is at a lesser distance from said floor, means dependent upon the speed of operation of said car for transferring the control from the first of said circuits to the other of said circuits as said car reduces its speed as it approaches said floor, and means responsive to actuation of said control means to car stopping position for completing the partially prepared circuits.

28. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, and having a deceleration distance from normal high speed greater than the distance between two adjacent floors, floor signal means at each floor for indicating that the car is to stop thereat, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floors for preparing for operation the floor signals for both of the floors within the deceleration distance of the position of said car, and means dependent upon the speed of said car for determining which of said floor signal means is to be operated.

29. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors and having the deceleration distance from normal high speed greater than the distance between two adjacent floors. control means for initiating starting and stopping operations of said car, floor signal means at each floor for indicating that the car is to stop thereat, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floors for partially preparing for operation the floor signal means for both of t e floors within the deceleration distance of the position of the car, means operable dependent upon the speed of said car for further preparing for operation one of said floor signal means and for preventing operation of the other of said floor signal means and means operable upon actuation of the control means to initiate a stopping operation of said car for completing the operation of the further prepared iioor signal means.

30. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, floor signal means at each of said floors for indicating that he car is to stop thereat, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floors when said car is approximately level with one or" said floors for simultaneously preparing for operation the floor signal means for that door and for the next floor to be approached by said car, means operable by actuation of the control means to car stopping position for further preparing for operation the floor signal means for both of said floors, and means operable when said car is stationary for completing the operation of only that floor signal means for the floor at which the car is standing and operable when said car is moving for completing the operation of only the floor signal means for the other or said floors.

31. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, control means therefor, selectively operable to cause stopping of said car, to cause operation of said car at a slow speed and to cause operation of said car at a higher speed, floor signal means at each floor for indicating that the car is to stop thereat, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car for simultaneously partially preparing for-operation the floor signal means for the floor with which the car is approximately level, the floor signal means for the next door to be approached by said car and the floor signal means for the floor beyond that next approached by the car, means operable by actuation of said control means to stop said car for further preparing for operation all of the partially prepared floor signal means, and means operable when said car is stationary for completing the operation of only the floor signal means for the floor at which the car is standing and operable dependent upon the selection of the lower speed of operation of said car by said control means for completing opera tion of only the floor signal means for the next floor to be approached by said car and dependent upon the selection of the higher speed of operation of said car by said control means for completing the operation of only the floor signal means for the floor beyond that next approached by the car.

32. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, control means therefor selectively operable to cause said car to stop at the floor next approached by said car or to stop at the floor beyond that next approached, floor signal means at each floor for indicating that the car is to stop thereat, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said fioors for simultaneously preparing for operation the floor signals for more than one of said floors, and means operable dependent upon the selective operation of said control means to stop said car at any one of said floors for which said signals are prepared for completing the actuation of the floor signal means at that floor only.

33. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, control means therefor selectively operable to cause said car to stop at the floor next approached by said car or to stop at the fioor beyond that next approached, floor signal means at each floor for indicatlng that the car is to stop thereat, and for indicating the direction in which said car is to travel, means operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floors for simultaneously preparing for operation the floor signals for the floor adjacent which the car is moving or standing, for the floor next to be approached by said car, and for the floor beyond that next approached, and means operable dependent upon the selective actuation of said,

controlling means to stop said car at any one of said floors for completing the operation of the floor signal for that floor only.

34. In a signal system for an elevator car, means for operating the car at a normal speed, means for operating the car at an express speed above its normal speed, means for registering calls for stops to be made by said car, means responsive to movement of the car for causing it to pick up each registered call at a predetermined distance from the floor corresponding thereto, and means immediately responsive to the registration of a stop call for immediately decelerating said car from its express speed to its normal speed where by the car may pick up said registered call while operating at normal speed.

35. In an elevator system for operating a car past a floor, a stationary contact member corresponding :to the floor, a plurality of traveling contact members, means responsive to movement of the car for moving the traveling contact members into sequential engagement with the stationary contact member, a circuit, means for decelerating and stopping the car at the floor and means responsive to operation of the decelerating and stopping means for sequentially connecting said circuit to the traveling contact members in accordance with the speed of the car.

36. In an'elevator system for operating a car in a hatchway, a stationary contact member corresponding to a predetermined point in said hatchway, a plurality of traveling contact members corresponding to difierent speeds of the car,

means responsive to movement of the car for moving said traveling contact members into sequential engagement with said stationary contact member, a circuit to be controlled by the engagement of t e traveling contact members with the stationary contact member, means for varying the speed of the car, and means responsive to operation of the speed-varying means for selectively connecting said circuit to that traveling contact member corresponding to the speed at which the car is being operated.

37. In an elevator system for operating a car at various speeds in a hatchway, a stationary contact member, a traveling contact member corresponding to high-speed operation of the car, a traveling contact member corresponding to lowspeed operation of the car, means responsive to movement or" the car for moving the traveling contact members into sequential engagement with the stationary contact member in accordance with the movement of the car, a circuit to be controlled by the engagement of the traveling contact members with the stationary contact member, and means for connecting the circuit to the high-speed contact member during high speed operation of the car and to the low -speed contact member during low speed operation of the car.

38. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a floor, a signal means at the floor for indicating that the car will stop thereat, a circuit for operating said signal means, a stationary contact and a plurality of traveling contact members for controlling said circuit, means responsive to operation of the car for sequentially moving the traveling contact members into engagement with the stationary contact member in accordance with the movement of the car, means for decelerating and stopping the car at the floor, and means responsive to operation of the decelerating and stopping means for selectively connecting said circuit to said traveling contact members whereby said circuit may be completed While said car is at a distance from the floor proportional to the speed of the car.

WILLIAM F. EAMES. 

